The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-12-02
MITKIEWIOZ TALKS ABOUT CHINA.
A Weeks Wages the Price OF Drink
Only the Lowest Glasses smoke
Opfum,

count MltkleWlcz TAXED Ireely tnc
other evening. says The New York
Tribune. about the recent visit to
China, during which he obtained his
concessions from the Chinese govern
ment which have set Europe agog, and
opened the way, he thinks, for the
introduction there of American bank
ing and railroad building and for the
development of that great country in
accordance with American ideas and
systems of enterprise.
"You must remember, said the
count, stroking his handsome side
whiskers, which are of an unusual and
intense auburn, 'that | have been an
American citizen for twenty-seven
years. So you see that ii is more than
a quarter of century since turned
my back upon Russian conservatism
and came here TO fill my lungs with
the inspiring air of this grand country.
| know better than many who were
born here what it is to be an American
citizen, for have been compelled to
sec the reverse side OF the picture. If
your young men could realize what
centuries of bgotry, prejudice and
want of enterprise will produce in a
people they would have much higher
appreciation of the country they are
living in. Please don't call me count
again. am no longer the bearer of
foreign title. When l took the oath of
allegiance to the constitution of the
United States became plain Mr.
Mitkiewicz. When upon an errand of
diplomacy, like the one l have COM
pleted in China, where | must meet
mobiles and men of state, title is an
advantage, perhaps. but in America,
with all whose good opinion is worth
having it is worse than useless. 1t is
wholly out of date here-obsolete that
Is the word.
what kind of man is LII Hung
Chang, you askP A very pleasant man
indeed, to do business with. do not
wonder that Gen. Grant thought highly
of him, for he is a well-informed per-
son and gentleman. l was surprised
at his thorough knowledge of the
history of Europe. He manifested a
wonderful acquaintance with the
various eras and reigns of the several
countries as he took them up one by
one. AS to this country, l could not
but be astonished at his familiarity
with the notable events in American
history. He was able to begin at its
discovery by Christopher Columbus,
knew all about the settlement of the
several colonies, the Revolutionary
war. the causes of the civil war; in
fact, | found him as thoroughly con-
versant with the salient points OF
American progress and development
as the majority Of graduates from the
colleges and universities.
Did you find the judicious use of
camphagne an assistance in pushing
forward your diplomatic venture
among the Chinese Pr the count was
asked.
mo, indeed" was the reply. 81
did not need such appliances inher-
tied the art of diplomacy--drank it
from my mothers breast, as it were.
But speaking of campagne, that is
something the use of which is almost
unknown in China, and the same may
he said of brandy, whisky, gin, rum.
and all kinds of liquor Of course, l
refer now to the superior classes. 1t
would be well If the prohibtionists
here could bring about such an over
whelming and uncompromising disgust
for intoxicating liquor as exists in
China. A man who drinks brandy
there Is ostracised. He is placed wholly
beyond the pale of decent association.
No one trusts him or holds any inter-
course with him. He might as we'll be
dead.
This is owing. partly to general
disgust Of the reliability OF persons
under the influence of liquor. They
are looked upon as we regard those
subject to spells of insanity. Then the
cost of liquor is so great In China in
comparison with Chnaman's earn
ings that il can not be obtained by peo-
pie Of ordinary means. A man is not
likely TO pay a weeks wages for
drink of liquor So one who does buy
1t appears in the light of fool. while
the use Of it gives to the user reputa-